Systems for vibration damping in a mobile radiographic imaging system

Abstract

Various systems are provided for damping vibration in a mobile radiographic imaging system. In one embodiment, a vibration damping assembly for a C-arm imaging system comprises a pivot element rotatably coupled to a toe portion of the C-arm imaging system and configured to form an interface between the toe portion, a damping element, and a ground surface on which the C-arm imaging system sits.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vibration damping assembly for a C-arm imaging system, comprising:
 a pivot element rotatably coupled to a toe portion of the C-arm imaging system and configured to form an interface between the toe portion, a damping element, and a ground surface on which the C-arm imaging system sits, wherein the pivot element comprises a forward portion coupled to one or more wheels supporting a weight of the C-arm imaging system. 
 
     
     
       2. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the damping element comprises at least one deformable member engaged with an end of the pivot element. 
     
     
       3. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one deformable member comprises a spring seated within an opening of a biasing member housing, the spring forming an interface between the toe portion and the pivot element. 
     
     
       4. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one deformable member comprises a deformable damping pad forming an interface between the toe portion and the pivot element. 
     
     
       5. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot element includes a pivot pin rotatably coupled to a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket fixedly coupled to the toe portion. 
     
     
       6. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a stop configured to limit a rotation of the pivot element in a first direction. 
     
     
       7. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the stop is positioned at a first side of the mounting bracket, and the pivot element includes a flange configured to engage with an opposing, second side of the mounting bracket to limit a rotation of the pivot element in an opposing, second direction. 
     
     
       8. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate forming an interface between an end of the pivot element and a cover of the toe portion at a first side of the pivot element, the pivot element rotatably coupled to the toe portion at an opposing, second side. 
     
     
       9. A vibration damping assembly for a mobile radiographic imaging system, comprising:
 a first support arm including a first opening and a second support arm including a second opening, with each of the first support arm and second support arm configured to couple to a toe portion of the mobile radiographic imaging system; 
 a pivot plate rotatably coupled to the first support arm and second support arm, the pivot plate including a pivot pin seated within each of the first opening and second opening; and 
 one or more biasing members configured to engage with the pivot plate between an underside of the pivot plate and the toe portion. 
 
     
     
       10. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more biasing members includes a spring and a damping element, with the spring and the damping element coupled to the underside of the pivot plate at a rearward portion of the pivot plate, with an opposing, forward portion of the pivot plate positioned across the pivot pin and configured to couple to one or more wheels of the mobile radiographic imaging system. 
     
     
       11. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the spring is seated adjacent to the damping element, with the damping element arranged between an upper surface of the biasing member housing and the underside of the pivot plate. 
     
     
       12. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a first stop coupled to the first support arm and a second stop coupled to the second support arm, the first stop and second stop configured to limit a rotation of the pivot plate. 
     
     
       13. The vibration damping assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a cover plate supported by the pivot plate, the cover plate configured to engage with a cover of the toe portion. 
     
     
       14. A medical imaging system, comprising:
 a C-arm including an x-ray source and an x-ray detector; 
 a base unit including a toe portion extending toward the C-arm at a ground surface on which the medical imaging system sits; and 
 a vibration damping assembly configured to damp vibration of the medical imaging system, comprising:
 a first support arm and a second support arm fixedly coupled to the toe portion; 
 a pivot plate rotatably coupled to the first support arm and second support arm via a pivot pin; 
 a spring arranged between the toe portion and the pivot plate and biasing the pivot plate, the spring housed in a biasing member housing; and 
 a damping element arranged between the biasing member housing and the pivot plate and biasing the pivot plate. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The medical imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein a forward portion of the pivot plate is coupled to one or more wheels supporting a weight of the mobile medical imaging system, and wherein the wheels are affixed to an underside of the forward portion of the pivot plate. 
     
     
       16. The medical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot plate includes a first flange and a second flange at a rearward portion opposite to the forward portion, with the first flange configured to engage with the first support arm and the second flange configured to engage with the second support arm to limit a rotation of the pivot plate via the pivot pin. 
     
     
       17. The medical imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the biasing member housing is seated within a recess of the toe portion, and the spring engages with the toe portion at the recess. 
     
     
       18. The medical imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein in an unloaded condition, the pivot plate is arranged approximately parallel with the first support arm, second support arm, and ground surface. 
     
     
       19. The medical imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein in a loaded condition, a rotation of the pivot plate via the pivot pin is limited by one or more stops coupled to the support arm. 
     
     
       20. The medical imaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the loaded condition includes vibrational load applied to the vibration damping assembly through the toe portion.